Nonrefillable bottle and unit therefor



May 4, 1937. T, L MaCBEAN 2,079,125

NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE AND UNIT THEREFOR Filed June 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheetl May 4, 1937. T. L. MacBEAN NONEFILLABLE BOTTLE AND UNIT THEREFOR 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1935 5&9. 7v

May 4, 1937. T. L.. Mac-BEAN NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE AND UNIT THEREFORFiled June 3, 1935 3 Sheets-5h66?I 3 Patented May 4, 1937 PATENT GFFICENoNnEFILLALE'oTTLE AND UNIT reunieron l Thomas Leonaraiviaeean, NewYork, N. Y.

Application June 3, 1935, Serial No. 24,756

9 Claims;

The invention relates to non-refillable bottles and has for its objectstoV provide certain new and useful improvements in devices of thischaracter. Y i

An important object Vof the invention is to provide a device adapted tobe inserted as a unit into the neck of a filled bottle andhaving a valveor closure memberand operating member therefor,

,the relative specific gravities of said valve and l0 operatingmembersbeing such that the latter holds the-valve toits seat in all positionsof the bottle except whenliquid is actually being dispensed from thebottle. This insures against reiilling of the bottle after the contentsor any part 15 thereof has once been dispensed or consumed.

A iurtherobject of the invention consists in the provisionoi an improveddevice for the purpose described which is adapted to be convenientlyinserted in a bottle neck, said device including auto- 20 maticallyoperative orexpansible means to secure the device within the interior ofthe bottle so as to insure against its subsequent removal therefrom.

A still further object consists in providing a 25 non-rellabl`e bottleunit composed of a plurality of relatively insertable interengagingmembers, the engagement of one with the other `servingto automaticallylock the saine together to the end that after the asseiribledv unit hasbeen inserted 30 within the neck of a filled bottle, said unit may notthereafter be disassociated `and partially or entirely removed from thebottle neck to permit access to the valve structure or unauthorizedrefilling of the bottle.

A still further object is to provide a non-reiill'- able bottle unit ordevice which is composed" of few parts capable of economical manufactureand convenient assembly, certain of whichparts co-` operate with theliquid within the bottle to maintain the' proper relationship betweenthe valve and its seat. This isto the end that liquidmay be dispensedAfromv theibottle only when the latter is inl til-ted or `pouringposition, the effect of any attempt to refill the empty bottle when ini5 inverted position` resulting in immediate seating of the valve,thereby insuring against such unauthorized relling.

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may beincident to the use of the 2U improvements, the invention consists inthe parts and combinations thereof4 hereinafter set forth and claimed,with the understanding that the several necessary elements constitutingthe same may be varied inV proportions and arrangement fw' withoutdeparting from the nature and scope of the invention.

1n order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shownin the accompanying drawings `means for carrying the same into practicaleiiect, without limiting thek improvements,

in their useful applications, to the particular constructions which, forthe purpose ofexplanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In said drawings:`

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through a bottle neck and showinga preferred embodiment of the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a similar vi'ew showing the non-.refillable bottle unit inpartially inserted position within the bottle neck.

Figure 3 is a similar. view showing a slightly modified valve or closureconstruction.

Figure 41s a.. transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. l showing a modified form ofnon-refillable closure device.

Figure 6 is a transverse section on line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing a still` further modifiedform of valve or closure construction.

Figure 84 is a view similar to Fig. 1V showing a still further modifiedform of non-rellable clo- Y sure device.`

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Figure 10is a similar view on Fig. 8.

Figurell is a fragmentary detail View of the structure shown in theupper part of Fig. 8 when applied to a bottle designed to be closed by aline Ill-Ill of screw cap with or without the usual frangible sealingring.

, Referring to the drawings and with particular reference to Figs. 1 and2, the bottle or container to which the invention is designed to benonremovably applied is' indicated at l and embodies the usual inte-gralthreads or projections 2 for receiving any suitable form of removableouter closure cap, not shown. The inner surface 3 of the bottle neck`extends downwardly and thence flares outwardly as indicated at 4 in theusual manner tof merge with the body wall, not shown, of the bottle.

The non-refillable device comprises an outer hollow housing, sleeve orshell 5 and an inner housing member generally indicated at 6. The shellmember 5 is preferably constructed of sheet metal of suitable resiliencyso as to cooperate with the housing to lock the parts` in positionagainst removal within the bottle neck. Said shell member issubstantially of cup-shaped formation and is provided at its upper endwith a lateral flange 1 terminating in a depending substantial outerflange portion 8 proportioned to snugly engage the top of the bottleneck for which it is designed. Said shell furtherv comprises anintegrally formed inwardly and upwardly extending conical wall 9terminating in. a substantially central circular aperture I0.

The lower portion of the shell 5 further comprises an expansible skirtportion 9a, the expansion of which is facilitated when the complete unitis assembled by providing such skirt portion with a plurality ofelongated substantially vertically disposed spaced slots 9b extendingfrom the skirt portion through the return bend 9c and terminating shortof the circular aperture I0. The expansion of the skirt portion 9a intoengagement with the bottle wall is facilitated by the slots 9bwhichunder radial pressure expand from the position shown in Fig. 2 intothat shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The inner housing member 6 is also preferably constructed of sheetmetal, is substantially cup shaped and is proportioned to snugly engagethe inner wall of the shell 5. The upper end of the housing is extendedinwardly as at II and terminates in downwardly and outwardly extendingflange portions I2 and I3 together defining the discharge opening of thebottle. 'I'he housing further comprises a lower cup shaped member' I4terminating in an upper peripheral flange I5 and having its intermediateportion flanged inwardly as at I6 to provide a valve seat for theclosure device. Below the valve seat the housing is of reduced diameterat I1 and is outwardly beaded at I8 to constitute a continuousprojection adapted to engage the walls of the aperture I0 of the shellmember 5. The lower portion of the housing terminates in an inwardlytapered conical member I9 having lateral apertures 20 and a lowerreduced opening 2I formed by rounding the lower extremities 22 of theconical wall I9. The housing 6 further comprises an intermediatesubstantially conical member 23 having a reduced upper portion 24 whichis closed at its upper end and provided with a plurality of lateralapertures 25. The upper portion of the housing is shaped to receive aninner lining 26 preferably of porcelain .or the like, which may bemolded and hardened within the housing as illustrated. Said lining 26includes a plurality of inwardly extending substantially vertical ribmembers 21 terminating at their upper ends in inwardly projecting lugs23 defining shoulders or Ystops to limit upward movement of a freelymovable closure or safety disk member 2S normally seated on the closedupper end of the intermediate member 24 of the housing. The disc member29 may be peripherally serrated .or notched to permit liquid to bedischarged past the disc into the discharge opening I2 of the closure.The porcelain or other refractory lining 26 is securely locked withinthe upper portion of the housing 6, by means of the outwardly flaredflange portions I3 of the housing. The upper sleeve portion of the sheetmetal housing 6 is suitably secured to the intermediate portion 24thereof and toy the lower cup-shaped portion I4 by means of pins 3! orother locking means, which are seated in adjacent ange portions of therespective members of the housing to constitute a unitary assemblyincluding the refractory lining 26, safety disk 30 and the valvemechanism which will now be described.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the valve or closure member is illustrated asconsisting of a disk 32 which may be of hollow imperforate sheet metalas illustra'ted, with or without an inner packing of cork or othersimilar material, to the end that the valve disk will act in the mannerof a float when in contact with a liquid. A valve operating member isindicated at 33, and in the form illustrated consists of a hollow orother ball or sphere of less specic gravity than the liquid 34 withinthe bottle, so as to float on the surface thereof, but of preferablygreater specic gravity than that of the valve disk member 32. The valveand valve operating members 32 and 33 are secured together by a flexiblecord member 35 secured at its opposite ends to said members andpreferably consisting of finely spun silk or other material which is notsubjected to swelling or roughening as a result `of contact with theliquid. The flexible cord 35 is designed to move freely through andrelative to the re stricted aperture 2I of the housing member and notretarded in its movement thereby, so as to quickly and accurately governthe movements of the valve disk 32 in respect to the seat I6 of thelatter.

In assembling the unit the flexible cord having its lower end secured tothe valve operating member 33, is threaded into the smooth aperture 2lof housing member I4 and is then secured at its upper end as at 3S tothe valve or closure 32. The latter is inserted into its housing throughthe upper end I5 of the latter. member 29 is inserted from below intothe upper portion 6 of the housing having the preformed refractory orporcelain lining 26 therein, the intermediate member`24/ of the housingis placed in position and the three members are permanently securedtogether as by means of the pins 3| or other securing means. Thedescribed housing assembly is or may be thereafter partially positionedwithin the outer shell member 5 from above as best seen in Fig. 2 untilthe rib or bead I8 of the housing engages the aperture ID of the shell.A thin paper or other sleeve-like packing 31 may be positioned betweenthe shell and bottle neck to insure against leakage of liquid from thebottle at this point. If desired, the described gasket may consist ofcement or like material which may be extended over the lip of the bottleas indicated at 38. In the event cement is used, the same alsoconstitutes an additional means for securing the sleeve to the bottle.

From the position shown in Fig. 2 the assembly is completed by forcingthe housing further into the `shell into the position shown in Fig. 1.In the latter position it will be observed that further downwardmovement of bead I8 after Contact with the shell results in expandingoutwardly the lower portion of the shell 5 into close frictionalengagement with the curved wall 4 o1' the bottle below its neck, therebyinsuring against subsequent removal of the sleeve from the container,the expansion of the slots 9b facilitating such locking engagement. Theouter wall of the housing 6 is provided with a peripheral recess 39adapted to receive and seat a resilient expansible ring member 49 ofspring metal or the like, which latter may be compressed to permit itsreception within the upper open end of the sleeve. When the assembly ofthe housing within the shell is complete the recess 39 registers with acorresponding annular recess 4I provided in the inner wall of the shell5. At this point the expansible ring member 40 springs outwardly intosaid latter recess. In expanded position, it will be observed that thedimensions of the recess 4I are such that the same will not house thecomplete width of the ring member. In this manner portions of the upperand lower edges of said ring engage adjacent walls of both recesses 39and 40 to thereby securely and irremovably lock the sleeve and housingtogether. andeffectually prevent the housing from. being. subsequentlyremoved` from the sleeve afterV the latter has been securely locked inthe manner abovedescribed from movewithin the bottle as when thecontents ofithe latter are completely or partially consumed- The sameaction would be obtained in holding the valve to its seat Were theoperating member 33 a weight instead of a float, inI which latter eventthe valve wouldV be held to its seat through cord connection 35 by theweight of member 33 depending within the Vbottle or submerged in theliquid of a iilled bottle.

In pouring position, the force of the liquid entering through apertures20, in addition to gravity, unseats the valve and the liquid isdispensed from the bottle through apertures 25 and past the `safety diskmember 30 between the spaced rib members 21 into the discharge openingI2.` The function of the safety disk 38, which is freely movablebetweenthe shoulders 28 and the top of housing member 24, isto prevent accessto the valve 32 to` hold the same open by means of a wire or otherimplement which otherwise might be inserted into mouth of the bottle andthreaded into one of the openings 25.

In theevent an effort is made to rerll the bottle the valve member 32being seated prevents such unauthorized' filling, In the` event theempty bottle is rst inverted to unseat the valve the pressure of theincoming liquid immediately forces the valve member against its seat.

The expansible ring member 48 is preferably secured together at its endby a pinv and slot connection 42 (Fig. 4) to limit outward `expansionthereof to aid inmaintaining the ring in position on the housing 6 onshell 5 prior to and. during assemblyofthe parts.

In the construction shown in. Fig. 3 a modied valve and seat is shown,the latter constituting a conical inwardly tapered wall 43. on the lowermember Ma.A of the housing 6a. The valve member consists of a truncatedspherical member 32a normally in engagement with the conical yseat 43and controlled iny respect to its movement thereagainst by the operatingmember 33a which is illustrated as constituting a float of less specificgravity than the valve 32a. As in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 thevalve operating member 33a may comprise if desired a. weight memberinstead of a float.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6' a substantially allporcelainconstruction is illustrated with a slightly modified form ofvalve and operating members. The shell 5b is molded fromv porcelain orthe like and includes a preferably integral intermediate wall 44defining an aperture 45 normally covered by a freely movable porcelainsafety disk member 30bvhaving peripherally spaced apertures 46 and upperradially disposed spaced rib members". This construction of' the safety.disk 3011 permits the flow ofliquid from the interior of the bottlethrough the discharge opening 12b of a closure member 48* also,Vconstructed; of porcelain and having." a; lower:

conical seatMl to; receivethe disk 30h when the bottleis in` pouring.position. The porcelain shell 5b' is secured to the bottle neck byflanged paper gasketmember or suitable cement packing'indicated at 31h.After the safety disk isv positioned the. closure 48 may be movedinwardly relative to the shell4 and' securely` locked against subsequentremoval by means of an expansible ring member 40h arranged in alignedrecesses in the closure andi shell and: operative in a manner similartothe ring 48 (Figs. 1 and.2). The free seating ofithe safety disk 3817andthe smooth refractory nature ofthe same prevents any possibility ofdrilling4 through the same to' obtain access to'the' valve, as the diskwill spin when in contact with the drill.. This member also preventsaccess to the. valve parts of. thebottle .by means of a iiexible` wireor` the like. The valve seat member l6b is-J also formed of porcelainand after insertion Within the shell is locked in position by means ofanexpansible ring member 58 similar to the ring 4Gb. The` valve 32h iscontrolled relative to its seatby a. Weight member 33hA of porcelain,steel or the like which depends freely by means'of flexible cord. member35'to an aperture 22h. defined by'thelower ends of a plurality of'depending and inwardly inclined rod membersg or wire supports indicatedat 5I and which have their upper ends seated as at 52 in the materialvof the valve seat element |611. vThis element'is further provided withaperipheral recess 53 in which'are anchored a pluralityof spacedresilient leaf'spring elements indicated at 54.r An expansible resilientring member 55, which may be substantially triangular'in cross section,is: also adapted to seat within the recess 53 and is urged downwardlyand outwardly by the spring elements 54. The ends of the ring member 55may be cut away as shown at* 56, 51 (Fig. 6) andi held together withinelastic limits by means ofla pin 58 having one end in engagement with aslot 59 in the opposite end of the' ring. The inner inclined wall of thering member 55 seats against a similarly lnclinedwail portion 60 of themember I6b so that the tendency of springs`54` is to expand the ring asit is forced downwardly along the inclined' surface 60; In this mannerthe shell" 5b is lockedY in positionv within thebottle neck afterinsertion' therein by the frictional engagement of the ring 55 withl theouter flaring inner wall surface 4b of the bottle below its point ofleast diameter. The relation of the valve and operating members 32h and33h to permit dispensingA of the bottle contents and tol preventunauthorized refilling is'the same as in respect to the former describedembodiments, with the exception that the operating member 33h isillustrated as comprising a. weight submerged within the bottlecontents, rather than a float. If desired a float may be substituted forthe weight, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

The embodiment illustrated' in Figure 7 1s slmilar to that inFigures 5and 6i with the exception that the valve operating member 33c'isillustrated as constituting a float preferably of greater specificgravity than the valve disk 32e, so as to draw the valve firmly againstits seat 43h. The valve is held on itsseat due to the tendencyof thefloat to rise in the liquid through the flexible silk cord connection35. The weight of the member 33o performs a similar functionfafter thecontents of the bottle have been consumed below the free pendantmovement of the member 33e. In order to assist the valve 32 to quicklyunseat when dispensingV the contents of the bottle, the valve isprovidedwitha hollow shellor cup-like member 6| which immediately fillswith liquid during the act of pouring. This added weight to the valve orclosure disk 32o enables it to quickly overcome the weight of the member33e and any tendency of the latter to retain the valve on its seat. Anyattempt to refill the bottle in this embodiment would result as in Fig.in quickly forcing the valve against its seat, regardless of theposition of the bottle, to prevent such unauthorized refilling.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 to 1l inclusive, the insertableunit indicated at ,65 is preferably preformed of porcelain or othervitreous material and may if desired be constructed of bakelite,beetleware or like material, which can be made acid and alcohol proof.Said insertable member 65 may be molded as separate units consisting ofan upper member 66 and a lower member 6l which are subsequentlyintegrally united in a cleavage line or joint indicated at 68 to providea unitary structure after the valve member 'i4 has been assembled on itsseat 69. The lower portionA of the part 61 of vitreous unit 65 isprovided with radially extending and communicating pouring channels 'l0and 1I spaced apart by Wall portions 12 in order to facilitate thedischarge of the bottle contents into the valve chamber 73. The wallportions 'i2 are centrally apertured as at 12a and are rounded at theirlower extremity to provide or constitute a seat ring 12b. As in otherembodiments of the invention, the valve member 'I4 may constitute afloat and is secured by flexible connection 'i5 to weight or floatmember 16, the latter controlling the movement of the valve toward andfrom its seat, depending upon whether liquid is being poured from orattempted to be forced into the container.

When the bottle is inverted, the ball or weight member 16 rolls orgravitates into the apertured seat ring 12b and remains there while theliquid is being poured until the bottle is returned to a point where theaction of gravity permits the ball to roll out and close the valve. Withthe member 15 in or adjacent the seat ring while pouring, its pull onthe closure member or valve 'i4 through flexible connection 'I5 isrelieved so that the liquid has only to overcome the buoyancy of theclosure member itself. The loosely seated safety disc 18 issubstantially similar to previously described embodiments and isprovided with upper circumferentially spaced lugs indicated at '19 toprevent the Idisc falling against and closing the dispensing aperture 80and further permit a free flowing of the liquid around the serratededges 8l of the disc and through the openings maintained by said lugs.

The unit G5 issecurely cemented within` the neck of the bottle and ifdesired may include a thin paper gasket 82 cemented or interposedbetween the member and the bottle neck to provide a secure iiuid tightunion. When the unit has been inserted to its full extent as shown inFig.v

8, the split wedge ring 83 expands radially under the iniiuence of aplurality of coil spring members 84, or any suitable type of springmember. The springs 84 bearing on the upper surface of the wedge ringcause the lower conical surface of the latter to slide downwardly on theflared wall 85 on which the ring seats until the outer surface of thering engages and locks against the outwardly flared inner surface of thebottle wall.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 8 may be provided with a cork within thedispensing aperture 8,8 with or without the usual screw cap closuresho-wn at 81 in Fig. 11. In Fig. 11 the vitreous insert member 65terminates flush with the top Wall of the bottle neck as illustrated topermit the bottle to be closed by the usual screw cap 81 with or withoutan interposed sealing gasket 88 or other disk seal.

In all illustrated embodiments of the invention the operating member 33may operate either as a iioat in which case it should be lighter thanits own displacement in liquid or it may be of metal or other substance.heavier than its own displacement in` liquid..v Where the operatingmember is lighter than liquid, and operated as a float, it should beslightly heavier than the closure member, and Where the operating memberis heavier than its displacement in liquid, it should also be slightlyheavier than the closure member. When the device is placed in the neckofa bottle and securely fastened therein, the action of the operatingmember either as a float or a weight tends to pull the closure memberagainst the valve seat thereby preventing the introduction of any liquidinto the bottle'and when it is desired to pour liquid from the bottlethey weight of the liquid yagainst the face ofthe closure memberovercomes the slight variation in weight or buoyancy as the case may beand forces the closure member away from the seat permitting the liquidto pass between the sides of the closure member and the sides of thecasing thence by a circuitous channel around the safety disk to theopening at the mouth of the bottle, at the same time sufiicient air isadmitted through the upper part of the same channels to prevent theforming of a vacuum within the bottle which would retard the flow of theliquid., In either case, if an attempt is to be made to reill the bottlein its normal or vertical position, the closure member of its own weightfalls against the seat Which is further enhanced by the weight orbuoyancy of the operating member and prevents any material passing intothe bottle. Any pressure applied in an attempt to force liquid throughserves only to close the valve tighter. If it is attempted to rellthevbottle in an inverted or any other position, the weight of theoperating member, where it is heavier than its displacement in liquid,plus: the buoyancy of the closure member forces the closure memberagainst the valve seat thereby preventing the flow o1' liquid into thebottle. Where the operating member is lighter than its displacementinliquid, its buoyancy, plus the buoyancy of the closure member acts inthe same way and prevents the introduction of any liquid into thebottle.

It is also important that the operating member 33 shall not come incontact with the sides of the bottle nor be obstructed in its freeaction of movement either as a weight or float in pulling the closuremember into position.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructio-n andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material ad- Vantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a non-reiillable bottle the combination of a housing insertablewithin the bottle neck, said housing having a valve seat, a valve memberconfined by said housing and movable towards and away from said seat, avalve operating member flexibly attached to said valve and disposed onthe opposite side of said seat, the relative specificA gravities of saidvalve and operating members being such that the operating member throughsaid ilexible attachment will move the valve member against its seat toprevent access to the interior of the bottle at all times and to permitwithdrawal of a pre-filled liquid only when a filled bottle is in tiltedposition, expansible means carried bysaid housing and adapted oninsertion of the latter to engage the bottle wall below and radiallyoutwardly from the neck wall, for preventing the removal of the housingfrom the bottle, and means `carried by said housing for locking saidexpansible means in expanded position.

2. In a non-rellable bottle the combination of a housing insertablewithin the bottle neck, said housing having a valve seat, a valve memberconfined by said housing and movable towards and away from said seat, avalve operating member flexibly attached to said valve and disposed onthe opposite side of said seat, the specific gravity of said operatingmember being greater than the specific gravity of said valve, wherebysaid operating member through said flexible attachment will draw thevalve member againstits seat to prevent access to the interior of thebottle at all times and to permit withdrawal of a pre-filled liquid onlyWhen a lled bottle is in tilted position, expansible means carried bysaid housing and automatically operative when thehousing is inserted toengage the bottle wall below the neck for preventing the removal of saidhousing from the bottle, and reciprocable means carried by said housingfor engaging saidexpansible means and holding the latter in expandedposition against the bottle wall.

3. In a non-rei'lllable bottle the combination of a sleeve memberinsertable within the bottle neck, said sleeve having means for engagingthe interior 0f the bottle below said neck to prevent removal ofthesleeve therefrom, and a housing including a valve and valve seat adaptedto be inserted within said sleeve, said housing having means operablewhen said housing is inserted to move said engaging means of the sleevemember into locking engagement with the interior wall of the bottle toprevent subsequent removal ol .the sleeve and housing therefrom.

4. In a non-rellable bottle the combination of a sleeve memberinsertable within the bottle neck, said sleeve having means for engagingthe interior of the bottle below said neck to prevent removal of thesleeve therefrom, a housing including a valve and valve seat adapted tobe inserted within said sleeve, said housing having means operable whensaid housing is inserted to move said engaging means of the sleevemember into locking engagement with the interior wall of the bottle, andmeans disposed between said sleeve member and the bottle neck to preventrelative movement thereof and the passage of fluid therebetween.

5. In a non-rellable bottle the combination of a sleeve memberinsertable within the bottle neck, said sleeve having means operative toengage the interior of the kbottle below said neck to prevent removaltherefrom, a shell m'ember adapted to be inserted within said sleeve,said shell including a valve seat, a valve conned within said shell andmovable relative to said seat, said shell having means engageable withsaid expansible means to move the latter into interlocking engagementwith the interior wall of the bottle at the limit of insertion of thehousing within said sleeve, and locking means operable by the insertionof said housing into said sleeve to secure said sleeve and housingtogether against relative displacement.

6. In a non-refillable bottle the combination of a sleeve memberinsertable within the bottle neck, said sleeve having automaticallyexpanslble means for engaging the interior of the bottle below said neckto prevent removal therefrom, a shell member insertable into saidsleeve, said shell including a valve seat, a float valve confined withinsaid shell and movable towards and away from said seat, said shellhaving a portion engageable with said expansible means to move thelatter into interlocking engagement with the interior wall of the bottleat the limit of insertion of the housing within said sleeve, lockingmeans operable by the insertion of said housing into said sleeve tosecure said sleeve and housing together against relative displacement,and means carried by said shell and exibly attached to said valve forholding the latter on its seat except when the contents of the bottleare poured therefrom.

7. In a non-refillable bottle the combination of a sleeve memberinsertable within the bottle neck, said sleeve member having automaticmeans for engaging the interior wall of the bo-ttle below said neck toprevent removal of the inserted sleeve therefrom, a valve seat on saidsleeve member, a valve housed within said sleeve and movable towardsand. away from said seat, means carried by said valve member andresponsive to the liquid contents of the bottle for controlling theposition of said valve relative to its seat, and means loosely confinedwithin said sleeve member for permitting the passage of liquidtherethrough and for preventing access to said valve from the outer endof the inserted sleeve member.

8. In a non-reillable bottle the combination of a sleeve memberinsertable within the bottle neck, said sleeve member having means forengaging the interior wall of the bottle below said neck to preventremoval of the sleeve therefrom, a valve seat on said sleeve member, avalve housed within said sleeve and movable towards and away from saidseat, means carried by said valve member and responsive to the liquidcontents of the bottle for controlling the position of said valverelative to its seat, and means carried by said sleeve for normallycentering said valve controlling means relative to said valve and valveseat.

9. In a non-rellable bottle the combination of a porcelain sleeve memberinsertable witl'iin the bottle neck, said sleeve member having means forengaging the interior wall of the bottle below said neck to preventremoval of the sleeve therefrom, a valve seat on said sleeve member, avalve housed within said sleeve and movable towards and away from saidseat, means carried by said valve member and responsive to the liquidcontents of the bottle for controlling the position of said valverelative to its seat, means carried by said sleeve for normallycentering said valve controlling means relative to said valve and valveseat, and means loosely confined within said sleeve member forpermitting the passage of liquid therethrough and for preventing accessto said valve from the outer end of the inserted sleeve member.

THOMAS L. MACBEAN.

